Sectional-derrick-leg clamp



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,369

w. F. SPEAKMAN ET AL SECTIONAL DERRICK LEG CLAMP Filed Aug. 10, 192'? WaZZeIFJ' QUYE 0/22 Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,703,369 PATENT oFFicE.

WALTER F. SPEAKMAN AND GUY E. CRDCKETT, OF DRUMRIGHT, OKLAHOMA.

SEOTIONAL-DEERICK-LEG CLAMP.

Application filed August 10, 1927.

This invention relates to a clamp for-sectional derrick legs. i

In our Letters Patent, No. 1,616,995, we have (.isclosed a type of clamp for use particularly with flanged leg sections.

i i e have now found that added advant es accrue if the shims forming part of lo clamps are permanently secured to the ends of the leg sections. With this con struction there is no danger of the shims being lost or falling down during construction of the derrick, nor is there any need for flanging the ends of the derrick leg sections. Furthermore, t 1e ends of the leg sections are reinforced and the supnorting strength of t L1G legs greatly increased by providing the shims with full length flanges or wings, adapted to abut each other at their resnective ends. The joints formed by securing an overlying flanged tubular member to said shims with the respective flanges positively interconnected throughout their entire lengths, are thus greatly strengthened.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved clamp construction for sectional derrick legs.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following description and appended claims. I

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a clamp for sectional derrick legs and connections thereto, with parts in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line II-II of Figure 1 with parts removed.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line IIIIII of Figure 1.

Figure l is a reduced sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Figure 1, with parts removed.

Figure 5 is atop plan View of the shims by themselves. I

Figure 6 is a side elevational view'of the clamp with one section of the outer tubular member removed and with parts in section.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a sectional derrick leg of tubular construction, such as is generally found in derrick structures. Said sectional derrick leg 1 comprises a plurality of sections having smooth abut- Serial No. 211,889.

ting edges 2. A sectional shim 3 is adapted to be -mounted on the respective abutting ends of the leg sections and to be secured thereto by suitable means, as by pins or rivets 4. Each of said sectional shims 3 comprises a pair of curved sections 5 and 6 (Figure 5) together forming a cylinder, said sections having radially extending full length flanges, or wings, 7 and 8, respectively, at one of their longitudinal edges. Said flanges 7 and- 8, as illustrated, are spaced apart by sub stantially 90 and accordingly, when the shims are in position on the ends of the derrick leg sections, said flanges point substantially in the direction of the other adjacent corner posts of the derrick, as will be apparent. It should be noted that the sections 5 and 6, when positioned in cylindrical form, do not quite meet but are spaced apart by longitudinal spaces 17. This is to allow for slight variations in the diameter of the legs.

It should further be noted that when the derrick leg sections are positioned in place,

the adjacent ends of the flanges 7 and 8 of the respective shims form abutting supporting surfaces 20, which increase the normal bearing surface 2 between the leg sections themselves and thus increase the vertical load bearing capacity of the leg sections.

The other member of the clamp comprises an outer sectional tubular member 9 adapted to overlie the shims 3 on abutting le sections and to be positively interconnected thereto. Said tubular member 9 comprises curved sections 10 and 11 (Figure similar to the shim sections 5 and 6, but provided with flanges 12 and 13 at each of their respective ends. The flanges 8, of the shim section 6, lie between the flanges 12 and 13 of the tubular sections 10 and 11, respectively, and the shim flanges 7 lie between the other pair of tubular section flanges 12 and 13. A plurality of bolts 14 are adapted to extend through said adjacent flanges, thereby positively interconnecting the'tubular member 9 with. the shims 3. Girts and braces 15 are adapted to be secured to certain other bolts 16 passing through the adjacent flanges of the tubular member and shims.

I It should be noted that in our present construction, the shims 3 are adapted to be permanently secured by means of the pins or rivets 4 to the ends of each of the leg sections, the heads of the rivets 4: being flush with'thc surface of the shims 3, and that said shims 3 terminate with the ends of said leg sections.

Accordingly, in setting up a derrick a sectional tubular member 9 is first attached to the shim 8 of a lower leg section by means of a bolt 14. In this position, said tubular member 9 forms a socket into which an upper leg section carrying a shim 3 may be dropped and bolted in place, by means of the upper bolt 14, through the respective flanges off the shim and tubular member sections. The full length flanges of the shims and tubular member not only greatly strengthen the joints of the sectional legs, but also serve for attaching the girts and braces 1:3. l'd urthern'iore, as point-- ed out above, the vertical load carrying capacity ot the leg sections is greatly creased, owing to the additional contact surf co fit) between the respective shim flanges '7 and 8.

We are aware that many changes in y be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a Wide range Without departing from the principles ot' this invention, and We, therefore, do not purpose link iting the patent granted hereon, other-vise than necessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A sectional derrick leg shim, comprising curved members adapted together to form 3. A combined clamp and connection for the leg sections, irts and braces ot a section derrick, cempri ing a pair of sectional shims, each adapted to secured to one end oi abut-- ting leg sections and having radia y endll en' th flanges, the ends or said't anges termma i ii the ends oi? said le sections and thereby increasing the eifective vertical load l 'n "aid leg see ions o-eari g surface of K t in tesumony Whereott We have hereunto subscribed our names at Tulsa, Tulsa County,

Oklahoma. 7

WALTER F, SFEAKh All GUY E. CROCKETT. 

